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Rome Expects Nearly Two Million for Papal Funeral

Aired April 04, 2005 - 10:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: But also at this hour, I want to say good morning to Rick and Daryn at the CNN Center, as our coverage continues not only from here but also from the CNN Center.
Good morning, guys.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN CO-ANCHOR: Good morning to you, Bill. And we'll be back with Bill in just a bit, a big part of our coverage over the next couple of hours.

RICK SANCHEZ, CNN CO-ANCHOR: Yes, a fine job that he's been doing there. And as Bill was saying, we are going to be taking you all the way through the place where the body of the pope is taken from the Apostolic Palace through St. Peter's Square. It's going to be quite a site. And we understand it's going to be some thousands of people that are already going to be waiting there to be able to experience that.

KAGAN: Waiting to get their turn to see the pope.

SANCHEZ: Exactly.

KAGAN: Right now, let's take a look at what's happening now in the news.

President Bush will meet with Ukraine President Viktor Yushchenko at the White House about 20 minutes from now. The meeting comes as Ukraine plans to pull its troops out of Iraq, and amid recent revelations that President Yushchenko's predecessor sold weapons to Saddam Hussein's Iraq.

"Well coordinated," that's how the U.S. military is describing the violent attack on the Abu Ghraib Detention Facility outside of Baghdad. Officials say up to 60 insurgents struck the site on Saturday. Two car bombs, rocket-propelled grenades, small arms fire and mortar rounds were used. At least 23 U.S. soldiers and 13 detainees were hurt.

Army Sergeant Paul Ray Smith is being given the nation's highest award for valor. Exactly two years after Smith died in Iraq, President Bush will award Smith the Medal of Honor. Smith is credited with saving the lives of as many as 100 soldiers during a battle near Baghdad in 2003. Smith's 11-year-old son will accept the award.

And it's being called the most comprehensive counterterrorism exercise ever in the U.S. About 30 minutes ago in New Jersey and Connecticut, simulated terrorist attacks started. The drills involve chemical weapons and traditional explosive attacks. The $16 million exercise tests the nation's homeland security response.

Good morning on this Monday morning. I'm Daryn Kagan.

SANCHEZ: And I'm Rick Sanchez.

In Rome this hour, officials are preparing for an onslaught of mourners. As many as 2 million people are expected to crowd into the Eternal City this week to pay their last respects to Pope John Paul II. Now, here's a quick look at the events as they are going to be unfolding. We're going to be bringing you up to date on all these things as they happen here at CNN.

Later today, the pope's body, as we mentioned, will be carried in a procession to St. Peter's Basilica for public viewing. And they're going to be going right through St. Peter's Square.

Now, hours ago, the Vatican announced the pope's funeral is going to be held Friday at 4:00 a.m. Eastern Time. He is to be buried at St. Peter's. And then, no sooner than April 17, 117 cardinals are going to gather in a conclave to choose a new pope.

Let's get started now by taking you to CNN's Bill Hemmer. He's been fronting things for us here from Rome. And he's joining us now.

I guess, Bill, what's going to happen in an hour is everything that has been private, in terms of the viewings of the pope, is going to change. and they are going to allow the public to be able to pay their last respects to the pope. Is that correct?

HEMMER: Yes, that's exactly right, Rick. And So many people refer to this pope as the people's pope for the past 26 years. And in a large sense, the people's pope will be returned to the people within the hour. We expect this procession to come out of the Apostolic Palace. That's that large four-story building; where on the top floor you have the pope's residence. That's where he's been lying for the private viewing for the past two days.

He'll come out of that building. His body carried through St. Peter's Square. Then up through the main doors of St. Peter's Church where around 8:00 local time tonight, about 2:00 back there in Atlanta, Georgia, the public viewing will begin.

And how many come to view is a wide open question now, Rick. Officials here in Rome expect about 2 million pilgrims to descend upon this city. Whether or not they get that many, or possibly even more than that number, is something that we'll just have to see, as the days and following week plays out. When the public viewing begins later tonight. And there should be quite an image here in the Vatican in about an hour's time when we see the public procession.

Want to bring in our Rome bureau chief Alessio Vinci back with me again here.

You've been talking with people. This square is filling up as best we can tell from that... ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's not only filling up, but actually what security officials did is they moved people back half the square. Because obviously, they need some room for the pope to go through it. The pope will emerge from what is known as the Bronze Door on the right-hand side of the basilica. Through that door they, the pope will come out, will be carried out, of course. And then he'll go back into the basilica through the main door where he will be laid in state as of 8:00 p.m. tonight in the Bologna, Rome, which is inside the basilica.

Before actually opening up the doors of the basilica the Cardinal Camerlengo, who is actually the pope who certified the death, will actually recite a prayer, a liturgical prayer. And then eventually open up the door, as you said, to return finally. And thank all these people here who have been watching television and seen the pope on television in the last few days. They want to see him in person, of course, even if he's dead.

HEMMER: And waiting now too.

The other thing the Vatican said today is that it will stay open for all but three hours of the night. It will close from 2:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. for what they consider technical reasons. But this is a church now that normally has midnight Mass during the Christmas season. It might have a Mass in the evening around midnight for the Easter services. But this is an exception. And everything right now is an exception in Rome.

VINCI: Absolutely. We can't underscore more the historical moment that we are all living through this. And I think everybody in the square today will remember this day as much as possible.

And in the coming days with the funeral and burial, we're talking about millions of people. I've been speaking with Italian security officials. They are not worried but, of course, they know this is the biggest challenge they ever had to face, 200 hundred heads of state, up to 2 million people. I mean when President Bush travels to this country and to Rome, the entire city shuts down when the president alone travels. Imagine something like 200 heads of states and up to 2 million people.

They've been setting up, actually wide screens throughout the city so that people who cannot come to St. Peter's Square during the funeral will be able to at least watch it on a giant television screen in stadiums and theaters around the country.

HEMMER: Thanks Alessio. See you again next hour. Alessio Vinci, our Rome bureau chief.

Also want to point out, the White House confirming last hour that President Bush will be here on Friday for the funeral, as Alessio pointed out. So, too, will be well over 100 heads of state. Interestingly to note, the Syrian president announced yesterday that he would attend the funeral.

It's almost developing into this event here at the Vatican where it is a must attend event. And we're going to wait now for the entire list to come out. But as the days grow longer, we'll figure out just who will turn up here.

And Rome officials, believe me, they have a huge challenge on their hands, Rick. If you are going to get 2 million more people into this town, and if you go back and look at history, in 2,000 the Jubilee Year, they had about 30 million people crowd into Rome. But that was over the 12-month period. Here we're talking about one single event that will take place at the end of this week, on Friday.

We'll have more from Rome in moment, but now back to you at the CNN Center.

KAGAN: Yes, Bill. As you are pointing out, an event crossing all international and religious boundaries, it is the place to be on Friday. Thank you.

Cardinal Roger Mahoney, archbishop of Los Angeles Diocese was among those cardinals who met this morning to decide the pope's funeral arrangements. Earlier on AMERICAN MORNING, the cardinal explained some of the challenges that face the next pope.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROGER MAHONEY, CARDINAL, L.A. DIOCESE: I think by change, we all mean the continuing implementation of the Second Vatican Council. It's some 40 years ago when it closed. It takes almost 70 to 80 years for a council to have its full impact.

So the renewal of the church, the continuing renewal of the church, especially at the local parish level, was a great call of the council. And I see our Holy Father was greatly committed to that. And so I see that continuing renewal as a major priority. I know it is for many of us United States and other countries as well. Also a great challenge of the emerging, young dynamic churches in Africa, Asia, Latin America.

So there's a lot of dynamism and strength in the church. And how to bring that all together and to have that go forward, will be a great challenge for the next pope.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: A tough act to follow, no doubt.

Pope John Paul II belonged to a billion Catholics around the world, but also many close personal friends. Let's go back to Bill in Rome who has one of the pope's friends with him to get more insight on the man -- Bill.

HEMMER: Daryn, thanks. Bishop John McGee is his name. He is the Bishop of Cloyne in County Cork, in Ireland. The former personal secretary to the pope and he's my guest here now in Rome.

Thank you so much for your time.

JOHN MCGEE, BISHOP, PAPAL SECRETARY: Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you.

HEMMER: I've been looking forward to meeting you and saying hello. Your thoughts, I guess, on a very personal sense of viewing the pope's body and also the time you spent with him. What is your feeling and where is your heart today?

MCGEE: My heart is with the Holy Father. It's not on this earth. It's gone with him. I spent half an hour, almost 45 minutes this morning alongside his body. All of my memories of having been so close to him as private sector secretary and as master of papal ceremonies. Nine years in all I spent working closely with him.

And I had all the thoughts going through my mind this morning, as I looked at that emaciated body. His face shows the signs of great suffering. His hands are all turned black. It's incredible the condition that he is in now. But I have no doubt that he is safe with the Lord. He's not suffering anymore.

And I have said many times that my relationship with Pope John Paul II was one of brother to brother. But on reflection now, I do believe that he became my father. My father in many ways, and he was most -- most gracious to me, most kind. He was an inspiration to me. And I was privileged to have had those years working with him.

I traveled to 64 countries with him on his travels. Preparing his liturgies, preparing every encounter during those foreign visits to the United States and to all of the other continents of the world. And Pope John Paul II has been a great hope for me. Even though I was secretary to his two previous secretaries, I have to say that I have never met anyone who reflected the beauty of Christ to the world, as did John Paul II.

HEMMER: Give me a better sense of that. If we can put it in more real terms so that we can understand the relationship and what you saw in that man. What made him so different from the day-to-day basis, from the two people who were in that position prior to him?

MCGEE: Well, you see, every pope is different. But the office is the same. The office and mission of the pope is always the same. To carry on the mission of Christ and to hand on the teaching of Christ to every generation, to every modern world. But every pope is different. He brings with him his own tiarisms (ph), his own natural gifts, his own spiritual gifts.

And while I would have said that Pope Paul VI was the one in whom I had first time seen the person of Christ, I was absolutely devoted to Pope Paul VI because he was a lead father. I came in four years before his death. He was already aged. I was with John Paul I for 33 days.

HEMMER: Right.

MCGEE: And I never left his side. He was known as the smiling pope. But he brought to that office a simplicity, a beauty of life. And an openness to people that I thought it was enhancing all that Paul VI had done. And he took the name John Paul because he wanted to underline the fact that what John the XXIII and Paul VI in bringing forth the Second Vatican Council, he wished to be the one who would implement it.

But he was only given 33 days and he was a pointer. He was a pointer to John Paul II. And the very first -- very first homily, here in St. Peter's Square on the 22 of October 1978 in his inaugural address, this young, energetic, fine looking man, 58 years of age, come to the papacy with such vigor. And he stood up before the world and he said, "Do not be afraid. Open the doors to Christ."

The word in Italian is "spilencati" ph, threw open the doors to Christ. Let every confine of every continent fall before the savior of the world, Jesus Christ. And there he was. And the people, the whole world, got an uplift that this man was going to go to the whole world. And that is what he did. The last command of Jesus Christ before his ascension into heaven was go out to the whole world, Proclaim the gospel, proclaim the Good News.

And that is what John Paul has achieved. And he has come back. And the extraordinary thing is that at the end of his life, he couldn't walk, he couldn't talk, he couldn't smile. But he suffered. And he gave the message to the world how calmly, how serenely take the cross and move towards death and resurrection.

HEMMER: Thank you, bishop. Good to see you. John McGee here in Rome.

MCGEE: Thank you. Thank you.

HEMMER: Back to Atlanta now for Daryn and...

MCGEE: Thank you.

KAGAN: Bill, the pope's death is affecting some surprising events. Including in deference to the pope's funeral, Britain's Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles have postponed their wedding. The couple will wed Saturday now instead of Friday, as planned. Prince Charles will attend the pope's funeral without Mrs. Bowles.

SANCHEZ: This is an event that's being marked not only in Europe and in Rome, but here in the United States. In fact, reaction to the pope's death has been no less dramatic. Here in our own country, from memorial Masses to individuals whose lives he touched. We are going to share with you some of those testimonials.

KAGAN: And Catholic cardinals prepare to meet to elect a new pope. Anderson Cooper takes us behind the scenes to look at the procedures of this super secret conclave.

SANCHEZ: And we're also going to be going back to Rome. Live once again with Bill and other correspondents who are following it. We're going to interview a Vatican insider of about Pope John Paul's legacy within the church, those who worked around him.

You're watching special coverage on this CNN LIVE TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: Welcome back to CNN LIVE TODAY. As we continue our special coverage here.

As head of the Catholic Church, Pope John Paul II was a spiritual leader for some 1 billion Catholics around the world, many here in the United States. And the Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic family fraternity with more than 1.5 million members. And that group's leader is Carl Anderson. He's good enough to join us from new haven, Connecticut.

Mr. Anderson, thanks so much for being with us, sir. I went on your Web site earlier today. And I happened to find a picture of you with the pontiff. You look somewhat humbled, if I may say so. What was that like? What can you tell us about him in that particular meeting?

CARL ANDERSON, SUPREME KNIGHT, KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS: Well, that's a meeting we have every year with the Holy Father. We set up a number of years ago a fund, which we call the Vicarious Christy Fund, Vicar of Christ Fund. And we're able to provide him with approximately $1 million every year for his personal charity. So it's just one of the many projects we do with him, we had done with him. And it was wonderful to be with him in his presence.

SANCHEZ: What can you tell us about him? Any anecdotes or anything in particular that we may have missed up until now?

ANDERSON: Well, at that meeting, after we had talked some business, he said members of your family there with you? And I said yes, my daughters and my wife. He said, well, let them come in and have a photograph, which we did. And he was so kind on that occasion.

And as we left, I turned just before I went out the door and looked at him, and there he was once again over and over again, giving blessings to my family. And I thought, you know, how remarkable, how typical of him, using every possibility to communicate something to the people he was with.

SANCHEZ: It's amazing. Because as you are saying that, about you and your family, and obviously, you are very much a Christian, I am seeing him doing the same thing you were describing that he did with your children with Fidel Castro. That was the picture we were just showing. What does that say?

ANDERSON: Well, it said to me that this was a man who really was Christ-like. He saw Jesus in everyone and tried to relate to each person like that. And of course, I think that's why there's this overwhelming response in his last hours and now with his death. People sensed this kind of genuine love of individual, of each person that reflected from him every day.

SANCHEZ: As a Catholic, as the leader of the Knights of Columbus, what are you looking for in the next pope?

ANDERSON: Well, someone I believe who carries forward this kind of spirit that we saw in John Paul II. He raised expectations tremendously among believers all across the world. We had members in the Philippines and in Mexico, and in Canada. He brought to the end, this terrible century of totalitarian totalitarianism.

The century we are in now faces different challenges. The emergence of China and Asia, large countries where they don't have many Christians. The devastation of AIDS in Africa, the poverty of the Western Hemisphere in the south, which is really primarily a Christian hemisphere, and dealing with secularization in Europe that's more and more apparent.

So the new pontiff, I think we have to ask questions, like what will be the kinds of skills and strengths he'll bring to meet these kinds of challenges? But we have faith that whoever the Lord selects for us will be someone that will have the capability to lead his church.

SANCHEZ: And as you describe it, it sounds like someone will have a very similar skill set as those of Pope John Paul II.

Carl Anderson, we thank you, sir, for taking time to talk with us.

ANDERSON: Thank you very much.

SANCHEZ: All righty -- Daryn.

KAGAN: And much more coverage from Rome is just ahead. As in the next hour, we expect the pope's body to be moved to an area where more of the public will be able to get a look and pay their last respects.

That and other news just ahead here on CNN LIVE TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Once again, we expect within the next 35 minutes, the pope's body will be moved to St. Peter's Basilica. And we're going to have live coverage as that takes place.

Meanwhile, some news that affects more of you here at home. Perhaps you've had someone in your family pass away recently, and perhaps you will be inheriting some money. Before you decide to dump your job and buy that beach house, our personal finance editor Gerri Willis has the "Top Five Tips" for dealing with sudden wealth.

Gerri, kind of strange topic for today; but probably a lot of people dealing with it. So, let's go ahead.

GERRI WILLIS, CNN-FN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Yes. I think some do deal with this topic. Inheriting money is sometimes a difficult thing. Let's face it, when you get the news that you are getting money like this, you are probably not in the best frame of mind. You may feel upset. You may even feel guilty. So take two steps back and think about what you should do next. Get a plan and don't take any life-altering steps until you get that plan. KAGAN: You know it would be nice to get some extra money. But probably most people what they get is not going to change their lives.

WILLIS: That's right. The average amount of money in some kind of amount like this $90,000. That's not enough money to rewrite your entire life. However, you can rethink some of your financial goals, Daryn.

KAGAN: So, important to priorities what you want to do first. Absolutely.

WILLIS: You bet. You bet. And first think about paying down that debt, that credit card debt in particular. You might want to think about putting more money away for retirement.

And finally, then think about the college education for the kids. You want to put that last on the list. Here's why, Daryn. The kids can always get low-interest rate loans. You can't get a low-interest rate loan for your retirement. So think through these suggested steps because it really takes some planning.

KAGAN: Might want to spend some of that money on getting some financial advice.

WILLIS: Well, typically what you'll find when you are inheriting money you're going to get some of that money in the form of property, maybe stocks, maybe bonds. You're going to have to translate that into dollars and cents. Hire an attorney to help you do that. You also hire a financial planner to help you work all of this into your long-term financial plan. Some expert help especially at a time like this when you might be upset is a great thing.

KAGAN: And probably there's a good chance whoever is leaving the money behind would like you to have a little bit of fun with it.

WILLIS: Yes. If you work through all these steps and you find you still have got money left over, hey, maybe now is the time to plan that important trip you've always wanted to take. Take a trip around the world. But not until you figure out exactly how to use this money first and make it go as far as it possibly can -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Gerri Willis, thanks for the tips. Excellent as always.

SANCHEZ: Bottom-line, don't blow it on a red Ferrari.

KAGAN: There you go.

(LAUGHTER)

SANCHEZ: Pope's funeral plans are being set for Friday. And here's a question. Will the president of the United States be attending? Well, we're going to check in with the White House to bring you an answer on that as it develops.

KAGAN: And behind closed doors of the Vatican. Anderson Cooper takes a look at the conclave that will elect the next pope. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired April 4, 2005 - 10:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: But also at this hour, I want to say good morning to Rick and Daryn at the CNN Center, as our coverage continues not only from here but also from the CNN Center.
Good morning, guys.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN CO-ANCHOR: Good morning to you, Bill. And we'll be back with Bill in just a bit, a big part of our coverage over the next couple of hours.

RICK SANCHEZ, CNN CO-ANCHOR: Yes, a fine job that he's been doing there. And as Bill was saying, we are going to be taking you all the way through the place where the body of the pope is taken from the Apostolic Palace through St. Peter's Square. It's going to be quite a site. And we understand it's going to be some thousands of people that are already going to be waiting there to be able to experience that.

KAGAN: Waiting to get their turn to see the pope.

SANCHEZ: Exactly.

KAGAN: Right now, let's take a look at what's happening now in the news.

President Bush will meet with Ukraine President Viktor Yushchenko at the White House about 20 minutes from now. The meeting comes as Ukraine plans to pull its troops out of Iraq, and amid recent revelations that President Yushchenko's predecessor sold weapons to Saddam Hussein's Iraq.

"Well coordinated," that's how the U.S. military is describing the violent attack on the Abu Ghraib Detention Facility outside of Baghdad. Officials say up to 60 insurgents struck the site on Saturday. Two car bombs, rocket-propelled grenades, small arms fire and mortar rounds were used. At least 23 U.S. soldiers and 13 detainees were hurt.

Army Sergeant Paul Ray Smith is being given the nation's highest award for valor. Exactly two years after Smith died in Iraq, President Bush will award Smith the Medal of Honor. Smith is credited with saving the lives of as many as 100 soldiers during a battle near Baghdad in 2003. Smith's 11-year-old son will accept the award.

And it's being called the most comprehensive counterterrorism exercise ever in the U.S. About 30 minutes ago in New Jersey and Connecticut, simulated terrorist attacks started. The drills involve chemical weapons and traditional explosive attacks. The $16 million exercise tests the nation's homeland security response.

Good morning on this Monday morning. I'm Daryn Kagan.

SANCHEZ: And I'm Rick Sanchez.

In Rome this hour, officials are preparing for an onslaught of mourners. As many as 2 million people are expected to crowd into the Eternal City this week to pay their last respects to Pope John Paul II. Now, here's a quick look at the events as they are going to be unfolding. We're going to be bringing you up to date on all these things as they happen here at CNN.

Later today, the pope's body, as we mentioned, will be carried in a procession to St. Peter's Basilica for public viewing. And they're going to be going right through St. Peter's Square.

Now, hours ago, the Vatican announced the pope's funeral is going to be held Friday at 4:00 a.m. Eastern Time. He is to be buried at St. Peter's. And then, no sooner than April 17, 117 cardinals are going to gather in a conclave to choose a new pope.

Let's get started now by taking you to CNN's Bill Hemmer. He's been fronting things for us here from Rome. And he's joining us now.

I guess, Bill, what's going to happen in an hour is everything that has been private, in terms of the viewings of the pope, is going to change. and they are going to allow the public to be able to pay their last respects to the pope. Is that correct?

HEMMER: Yes, that's exactly right, Rick. And So many people refer to this pope as the people's pope for the past 26 years. And in a large sense, the people's pope will be returned to the people within the hour. We expect this procession to come out of the Apostolic Palace. That's that large four-story building; where on the top floor you have the pope's residence. That's where he's been lying for the private viewing for the past two days.

He'll come out of that building. His body carried through St. Peter's Square. Then up through the main doors of St. Peter's Church where around 8:00 local time tonight, about 2:00 back there in Atlanta, Georgia, the public viewing will begin.

And how many come to view is a wide open question now, Rick. Officials here in Rome expect about 2 million pilgrims to descend upon this city. Whether or not they get that many, or possibly even more than that number, is something that we'll just have to see, as the days and following week plays out. When the public viewing begins later tonight. And there should be quite an image here in the Vatican in about an hour's time when we see the public procession.

Want to bring in our Rome bureau chief Alessio Vinci back with me again here.

You've been talking with people. This square is filling up as best we can tell from that... ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It's not only filling up, but actually what security officials did is they moved people back half the square. Because obviously, they need some room for the pope to go through it. The pope will emerge from what is known as the Bronze Door on the right-hand side of the basilica. Through that door they, the pope will come out, will be carried out, of course. And then he'll go back into the basilica through the main door where he will be laid in state as of 8:00 p.m. tonight in the Bologna, Rome, which is inside the basilica.

Before actually opening up the doors of the basilica the Cardinal Camerlengo, who is actually the pope who certified the death, will actually recite a prayer, a liturgical prayer. And then eventually open up the door, as you said, to return finally. And thank all these people here who have been watching television and seen the pope on television in the last few days. They want to see him in person, of course, even if he's dead.

HEMMER: And waiting now too.

The other thing the Vatican said today is that it will stay open for all but three hours of the night. It will close from 2:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. for what they consider technical reasons. But this is a church now that normally has midnight Mass during the Christmas season. It might have a Mass in the evening around midnight for the Easter services. But this is an exception. And everything right now is an exception in Rome.

VINCI: Absolutely. We can't underscore more the historical moment that we are all living through this. And I think everybody in the square today will remember this day as much as possible.

And in the coming days with the funeral and burial, we're talking about millions of people. I've been speaking with Italian security officials. They are not worried but, of course, they know this is the biggest challenge they ever had to face, 200 hundred heads of state, up to 2 million people. I mean when President Bush travels to this country and to Rome, the entire city shuts down when the president alone travels. Imagine something like 200 heads of states and up to 2 million people.

They've been setting up, actually wide screens throughout the city so that people who cannot come to St. Peter's Square during the funeral will be able to at least watch it on a giant television screen in stadiums and theaters around the country.

HEMMER: Thanks Alessio. See you again next hour. Alessio Vinci, our Rome bureau chief.

Also want to point out, the White House confirming last hour that President Bush will be here on Friday for the funeral, as Alessio pointed out. So, too, will be well over 100 heads of state. Interestingly to note, the Syrian president announced yesterday that he would attend the funeral.

It's almost developing into this event here at the Vatican where it is a must attend event. And we're going to wait now for the entire list to come out. But as the days grow longer, we'll figure out just who will turn up here.

And Rome officials, believe me, they have a huge challenge on their hands, Rick. If you are going to get 2 million more people into this town, and if you go back and look at history, in 2,000 the Jubilee Year, they had about 30 million people crowd into Rome. But that was over the 12-month period. Here we're talking about one single event that will take place at the end of this week, on Friday.

We'll have more from Rome in moment, but now back to you at the CNN Center.

KAGAN: Yes, Bill. As you are pointing out, an event crossing all international and religious boundaries, it is the place to be on Friday. Thank you.

Cardinal Roger Mahoney, archbishop of Los Angeles Diocese was among those cardinals who met this morning to decide the pope's funeral arrangements. Earlier on AMERICAN MORNING, the cardinal explained some of the challenges that face the next pope.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROGER MAHONEY, CARDINAL, L.A. DIOCESE: I think by change, we all mean the continuing implementation of the Second Vatican Council. It's some 40 years ago when it closed. It takes almost 70 to 80 years for a council to have its full impact.

So the renewal of the church, the continuing renewal of the church, especially at the local parish level, was a great call of the council. And I see our Holy Father was greatly committed to that. And so I see that continuing renewal as a major priority. I know it is for many of us United States and other countries as well. Also a great challenge of the emerging, young dynamic churches in Africa, Asia, Latin America.

So there's a lot of dynamism and strength in the church. And how to bring that all together and to have that go forward, will be a great challenge for the next pope.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: A tough act to follow, no doubt.

Pope John Paul II belonged to a billion Catholics around the world, but also many close personal friends. Let's go back to Bill in Rome who has one of the pope's friends with him to get more insight on the man -- Bill.

HEMMER: Daryn, thanks. Bishop John McGee is his name. He is the Bishop of Cloyne in County Cork, in Ireland. The former personal secretary to the pope and he's my guest here now in Rome.

Thank you so much for your time.

JOHN MCGEE, BISHOP, PAPAL SECRETARY: Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you.

HEMMER: I've been looking forward to meeting you and saying hello. Your thoughts, I guess, on a very personal sense of viewing the pope's body and also the time you spent with him. What is your feeling and where is your heart today?

MCGEE: My heart is with the Holy Father. It's not on this earth. It's gone with him. I spent half an hour, almost 45 minutes this morning alongside his body. All of my memories of having been so close to him as private sector secretary and as master of papal ceremonies. Nine years in all I spent working closely with him.

And I had all the thoughts going through my mind this morning, as I looked at that emaciated body. His face shows the signs of great suffering. His hands are all turned black. It's incredible the condition that he is in now. But I have no doubt that he is safe with the Lord. He's not suffering anymore.

And I have said many times that my relationship with Pope John Paul II was one of brother to brother. But on reflection now, I do believe that he became my father. My father in many ways, and he was most -- most gracious to me, most kind. He was an inspiration to me. And I was privileged to have had those years working with him.

I traveled to 64 countries with him on his travels. Preparing his liturgies, preparing every encounter during those foreign visits to the United States and to all of the other continents of the world. And Pope John Paul II has been a great hope for me. Even though I was secretary to his two previous secretaries, I have to say that I have never met anyone who reflected the beauty of Christ to the world, as did John Paul II.

HEMMER: Give me a better sense of that. If we can put it in more real terms so that we can understand the relationship and what you saw in that man. What made him so different from the day-to-day basis, from the two people who were in that position prior to him?

MCGEE: Well, you see, every pope is different. But the office is the same. The office and mission of the pope is always the same. To carry on the mission of Christ and to hand on the teaching of Christ to every generation, to every modern world. But every pope is different. He brings with him his own tiarisms (ph), his own natural gifts, his own spiritual gifts.

And while I would have said that Pope Paul VI was the one in whom I had first time seen the person of Christ, I was absolutely devoted to Pope Paul VI because he was a lead father. I came in four years before his death. He was already aged. I was with John Paul I for 33 days.

HEMMER: Right.

MCGEE: And I never left his side. He was known as the smiling pope. But he brought to that office a simplicity, a beauty of life. And an openness to people that I thought it was enhancing all that Paul VI had done. And he took the name John Paul because he wanted to underline the fact that what John the XXIII and Paul VI in bringing forth the Second Vatican Council, he wished to be the one who would implement it.

But he was only given 33 days and he was a pointer. He was a pointer to John Paul II. And the very first -- very first homily, here in St. Peter's Square on the 22 of October 1978 in his inaugural address, this young, energetic, fine looking man, 58 years of age, come to the papacy with such vigor. And he stood up before the world and he said, "Do not be afraid. Open the doors to Christ."

The word in Italian is "spilencati" ph, threw open the doors to Christ. Let every confine of every continent fall before the savior of the world, Jesus Christ. And there he was. And the people, the whole world, got an uplift that this man was going to go to the whole world. And that is what he did. The last command of Jesus Christ before his ascension into heaven was go out to the whole world, Proclaim the gospel, proclaim the Good News.

And that is what John Paul has achieved. And he has come back. And the extraordinary thing is that at the end of his life, he couldn't walk, he couldn't talk, he couldn't smile. But he suffered. And he gave the message to the world how calmly, how serenely take the cross and move towards death and resurrection.

HEMMER: Thank you, bishop. Good to see you. John McGee here in Rome.

MCGEE: Thank you. Thank you.

HEMMER: Back to Atlanta now for Daryn and...

MCGEE: Thank you.

KAGAN: Bill, the pope's death is affecting some surprising events. Including in deference to the pope's funeral, Britain's Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles have postponed their wedding. The couple will wed Saturday now instead of Friday, as planned. Prince Charles will attend the pope's funeral without Mrs. Bowles.

SANCHEZ: This is an event that's being marked not only in Europe and in Rome, but here in the United States. In fact, reaction to the pope's death has been no less dramatic. Here in our own country, from memorial Masses to individuals whose lives he touched. We are going to share with you some of those testimonials.

KAGAN: And Catholic cardinals prepare to meet to elect a new pope. Anderson Cooper takes us behind the scenes to look at the procedures of this super secret conclave.

SANCHEZ: And we're also going to be going back to Rome. Live once again with Bill and other correspondents who are following it. We're going to interview a Vatican insider of about Pope John Paul's legacy within the church, those who worked around him.

You're watching special coverage on this CNN LIVE TODAY.

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SANCHEZ: Welcome back to CNN LIVE TODAY. As we continue our special coverage here.

As head of the Catholic Church, Pope John Paul II was a spiritual leader for some 1 billion Catholics around the world, many here in the United States. And the Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic family fraternity with more than 1.5 million members. And that group's leader is Carl Anderson. He's good enough to join us from new haven, Connecticut.

Mr. Anderson, thanks so much for being with us, sir. I went on your Web site earlier today. And I happened to find a picture of you with the pontiff. You look somewhat humbled, if I may say so. What was that like? What can you tell us about him in that particular meeting?

CARL ANDERSON, SUPREME KNIGHT, KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS: Well, that's a meeting we have every year with the Holy Father. We set up a number of years ago a fund, which we call the Vicarious Christy Fund, Vicar of Christ Fund. And we're able to provide him with approximately $1 million every year for his personal charity. So it's just one of the many projects we do with him, we had done with him. And it was wonderful to be with him in his presence.

SANCHEZ: What can you tell us about him? Any anecdotes or anything in particular that we may have missed up until now?

ANDERSON: Well, at that meeting, after we had talked some business, he said members of your family there with you? And I said yes, my daughters and my wife. He said, well, let them come in and have a photograph, which we did. And he was so kind on that occasion.

And as we left, I turned just before I went out the door and looked at him, and there he was once again over and over again, giving blessings to my family. And I thought, you know, how remarkable, how typical of him, using every possibility to communicate something to the people he was with.

SANCHEZ: It's amazing. Because as you are saying that, about you and your family, and obviously, you are very much a Christian, I am seeing him doing the same thing you were describing that he did with your children with Fidel Castro. That was the picture we were just showing. What does that say?

ANDERSON: Well, it said to me that this was a man who really was Christ-like. He saw Jesus in everyone and tried to relate to each person like that. And of course, I think that's why there's this overwhelming response in his last hours and now with his death. People sensed this kind of genuine love of individual, of each person that reflected from him every day.

SANCHEZ: As a Catholic, as the leader of the Knights of Columbus, what are you looking for in the next pope?

ANDERSON: Well, someone I believe who carries forward this kind of spirit that we saw in John Paul II. He raised expectations tremendously among believers all across the world. We had members in the Philippines and in Mexico, and in Canada. He brought to the end, this terrible century of totalitarian totalitarianism.

The century we are in now faces different challenges. The emergence of China and Asia, large countries where they don't have many Christians. The devastation of AIDS in Africa, the poverty of the Western Hemisphere in the south, which is really primarily a Christian hemisphere, and dealing with secularization in Europe that's more and more apparent.

So the new pontiff, I think we have to ask questions, like what will be the kinds of skills and strengths he'll bring to meet these kinds of challenges? But we have faith that whoever the Lord selects for us will be someone that will have the capability to lead his church.

SANCHEZ: And as you describe it, it sounds like someone will have a very similar skill set as those of Pope John Paul II.

Carl Anderson, we thank you, sir, for taking time to talk with us.

ANDERSON: Thank you very much.

SANCHEZ: All righty -- Daryn.

KAGAN: And much more coverage from Rome is just ahead. As in the next hour, we expect the pope's body to be moved to an area where more of the public will be able to get a look and pay their last respects.

That and other news just ahead here on CNN LIVE TODAY.

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KAGAN: Once again, we expect within the next 35 minutes, the pope's body will be moved to St. Peter's Basilica. And we're going to have live coverage as that takes place.

Meanwhile, some news that affects more of you here at home. Perhaps you've had someone in your family pass away recently, and perhaps you will be inheriting some money. Before you decide to dump your job and buy that beach house, our personal finance editor Gerri Willis has the "Top Five Tips" for dealing with sudden wealth.

Gerri, kind of strange topic for today; but probably a lot of people dealing with it. So, let's go ahead.

GERRI WILLIS, CNN-FN PERSONAL FINANCE EDITOR: Yes. I think some do deal with this topic. Inheriting money is sometimes a difficult thing. Let's face it, when you get the news that you are getting money like this, you are probably not in the best frame of mind. You may feel upset. You may even feel guilty. So take two steps back and think about what you should do next. Get a plan and don't take any life-altering steps until you get that plan. KAGAN: You know it would be nice to get some extra money. But probably most people what they get is not going to change their lives.

WILLIS: That's right. The average amount of money in some kind of amount like this $90,000. That's not enough money to rewrite your entire life. However, you can rethink some of your financial goals, Daryn.

KAGAN: So, important to priorities what you want to do first. Absolutely.

WILLIS: You bet. You bet. And first think about paying down that debt, that credit card debt in particular. You might want to think about putting more money away for retirement.

And finally, then think about the college education for the kids. You want to put that last on the list. Here's why, Daryn. The kids can always get low-interest rate loans. You can't get a low-interest rate loan for your retirement. So think through these suggested steps because it really takes some planning.

KAGAN: Might want to spend some of that money on getting some financial advice.

WILLIS: Well, typically what you'll find when you are inheriting money you're going to get some of that money in the form of property, maybe stocks, maybe bonds. You're going to have to translate that into dollars and cents. Hire an attorney to help you do that. You also hire a financial planner to help you work all of this into your long-term financial plan. Some expert help especially at a time like this when you might be upset is a great thing.

KAGAN: And probably there's a good chance whoever is leaving the money behind would like you to have a little bit of fun with it.

WILLIS: Yes. If you work through all these steps and you find you still have got money left over, hey, maybe now is the time to plan that important trip you've always wanted to take. Take a trip around the world. But not until you figure out exactly how to use this money first and make it go as far as it possibly can -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Gerri Willis, thanks for the tips. Excellent as always.

SANCHEZ: Bottom-line, don't blow it on a red Ferrari.

KAGAN: There you go.

(LAUGHTER)

SANCHEZ: Pope's funeral plans are being set for Friday. And here's a question. Will the president of the United States be attending? Well, we're going to check in with the White House to bring you an answer on that as it develops.

KAGAN: And behind closed doors of the Vatican. Anderson Cooper takes a look at the conclave that will elect the next pope. Stay with us.

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